Accreditation pushed for health offices

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Local health offices and animal bite treatment center facilities are encouraged to apply for accreditation with PhilHealth so they can become eligible providers of the agency’s animal bite treatment package.

With the summer months setting in. this is most needed as stray dogs abound. Visitors also frequent areas where there are many people, with some toting their pet dogs.

According to PhilHealth Provincial Head Maritess Que, the agency offers P3,000 worth of treatment package to defray the cost of post-animal bite treatment of patients bitten by rabid dogs and other animals.

The package includes administration of vaccines, immunoglobulins, antibiotics, and other supplies. This service can be availed of in PhilHealth-accredited animal bite treatment centers.

There are only four PhilHealth-accredited animal bite treatment centers in Negros Oriental, namely the Sibulan Rural Health Unit, La Libertad Rural Health Unit, Pamplona Rural Health Unit, and Valencia Rural Health Unit.

The Dumaguete City Health Center was once accredited in order to extend the PhilHealth package, but did not renew its accreditation.

With their accreditation by PhilHealth, animal bite treatment centers can cater to PhilHealth members, which comprise a sizable chunk of the population and ensure funding from the agency as it pays the health service provider P3,000 for every case of post-animal bite treatment referred to them.

“This is a form of assistance to health centers that are accredited as animal bite treatment facility so they can also upgrade their services,” Que said.

Dr. Mylene Infante of the Department of Health Negros Oriental welcomed this announcement from PhilHealth.

She said Negros Oriental has 13 animal bite treatment centers spread in cities and municipalities that are accredited under the Department. There are also other health service providers who have submitted their letters of intent to the Department of Health to be recognized as an animal bite treatment center.

This will greatly help people seeking medical treatment for animal bites as these services will be more accessible to them. Infante added that over the past years, rabies-related deaths in the province ranged from five to 10 cases a year.

In 2021, there were 10 deaths recorded related to rabies infection. Figures for 2022 are still being verified.

Que said this is another reason for people to be enrolled with PhilHealth as she also urged those who are not yet members to sign up with them to avail of this treatment package.

Some individuals, however, raised the concern that P3,000 is not enough to cover the treatment expenses.

“In private clinics, vaccines could cost from P10,000 to P30,000 depending on the patient’s weight,” said Dr. Jan Sibala-Armco, Sibulan Municipal Health Officer. Anti-rabies vaccines are supplied by the Department of Health in the Sibulan Rural Health Unit.

Dumaguete City Veterinarian Dr. Lourdes Socorro noted that in the case of humans, the cost of treatment would also depend on the part that was bitten by the rabid animal.

If the part that was bitten is near the head, then it would entail stronger medicines to prevent the spread of the virus to the brain which could be expensive for patients.

Que said the amount of the treatment package was pegged at that price as the Department of Health is already supplying vaccines to health centers and other government treatment centers so the package is intended for supplemental expenses like antibiotics.

She said she will relay the feedback to their executives for them to review their policies and possible rate adjustments in the future to further benefit its members. – NWI